And by lately, I mean on and off for months. Sure, we get our brief warm stretches where temperatures climb into the 70s and the sun shines.

But just as we get the chill out of our bones, Mother Nature drops buckets of cold rain on us and the temperatures drop.

Friday had to be one of the most miserable days I’ve spent outside in a long time.

One of my kids was at a track meet; the other two were at a swim meet.

We could have heated arguments for a long time about which was worse — running through temperatures in the 40s with winds gusting and rain falling or swimming in the same conditions.

On the face of it, swimming sounds worse, but at least the water was warm.

I wouldn’t have been surprised by that weather in January. But late April seemed a bit much.

I know it’s silly to complain about the weather like it’s something that was ordered off a menu.

We get what we get and that’s why God made air conditioners and heaters and jackets and sunscreen.

Every time we get a cold front, I hope and pray it’s the last one of the season.

I want to put away my winter clothes, stop driving around with blankets in the back of my car and move into spring with the confidence that I’m more likely to be hot than cold.

Still, we are blessed.

On Friday, as I was shivering and rain was dripping down the back of my neck, I was filled with appreciation that we were moving about freely in our little part of the world, in sharp contrast to our fellow Americans in Boston.

Last week was a strange week, one I hope will never be repeated. My heart breaks for victims of the marathon bombings.

According to the media, Bostonians are tough, really tough.

I obviously need to get tougher, too.

Daily News Assignment Editor Wendy Victora can be reached at 315-4478 or wvictora@nwfdailynews.com.

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And by lately, I mean on and off for months. Sure, we get our brief warm stretches where temperatures climb into the 70s and the sun shines.

But just as we get the chill out of our bones, Mother Nature drops buckets of cold rain on us and the temperatures drop.

Friday had to be one of the most miserable days I’ve spent outside in a long time.

One of my kids was at a track meet; the other two were at a swim meet.

We could have heated arguments for a long time about which was worse — running through temperatures in the 40s with winds gusting and rain falling or swimming in the same conditions.

On the face of it, swimming sounds worse, but at least the water was warm.

I wouldn’t have been surprised by that weather in January. But late April seemed a bit much.

I know it’s silly to complain about the weather like it’s something that was ordered off a menu.

We get what we get and that’s why God made air conditioners and heaters and jackets and sunscreen.

Every time we get a cold front, I hope and pray it’s the last one of the season.

I want to put away my winter clothes, stop driving around with blankets in the back of my car and move into spring with the confidence that I’m more likely to be hot than cold.

Still, we are blessed.

On Friday, as I was shivering and rain was dripping down the back of my neck, I was filled with appreciation that we were moving about freely in our little part of the world, in sharp contrast to our fellow Americans in Boston.

Last week was a strange week, one I hope will never be repeated. My heart breaks for victims of the marathon bombings.

According to the media, Bostonians are tough, really tough.

I obviously need to get tougher, too.

Daily News Assignment Editor Wendy Victora can be reached at 315-4478 or wvictora@nwfdailynews.com.